I Went to 'Camp' For 5 Days to Learn How to Be a Better Feminist

During the second week of January, I spent nine hours a day—for five consecutive days—trudging around the streets of New York City and Brooklyn with a group of 21 strangers in the name of feminism. Our eclectic cohort included 14 college students, three working women, two renowned feminists, one program co-director, one grad student, and a Glamour editor (me). We were all part of something called Feminist Camp, an initiative started by activists Amy Richards and Jennifer Baumgardner after touring college campuses as speakers and noticing that the way schools taught feminism was far behind what was actually going on within the movement. And like most camps, we followed a itinerary—but this one included a mix of engaging with thought leaders, screening documentaries, and participating in workshops about things like reproductive rights and ethical fundraising.

I discovered the program a year earlier while Insta stalking Gloria Steinem (what, like you’ve never done it?), At the time, I was getting fatigued with the pop-culture brand of feminism I was seeing all around me (i.e., hot women writhing around naked in pasta in the name of a female's right to be sexual, brands touting their nail polishes as 'empowering'). And, look, no shade: I think it’s great that more and more people are engaging with feminism, and if what that means to you is naming your cat Daenerys, then who am I to judge? But I was craving a more meaningful interaction with women on the ground and seeking a more tangible definition of what it means to not only believe in equality but also actively fight for it—which is how I found myself enrolling in the winter session of Feminist Camp in New York. There was also the option of signing up for camp sessions in Seattle, San Francisco, Richmond, and Zambia, with the cost varying from $590 to $6,500 and financial aid available (which I used). I had no idea what I was getting into, but if Gloria endorsed it, it had to be worthwhile, right?

Still, I get that a lot of people probably think that the idea of a "camp" for feminism sounds frivolous. I was dubious, too. I majored in Feminist, Gender and Sexuality studies in college, so would this be anything new? Now that I've been through it I'll say that yeah, it's actually very different—especially if you're interested in learning more about what feminism looks like in real women's lives or want to make a change in your own. But you have to go in with an open mind; the camp isn't about converting non-believers to the cause or Feminism 101. It's for people who already care about feminism and are hungry for more of it.

I’d describe Feminist Camp as part lectures, part job fair, part summer camp, and part really good food (Amy makes a mean cookie). You certainly get an education: We learned about the harmful side of philanthropy from the Third Wave Fund, saw how abortions are performed with the Reproductive Health Access Project, and heard about the realities of life for incarcerated women from Justine Moore of The National Council for Incarcerated and Formerly Incarcerated Women and Girls. Some of the discussions and workshops reminded me of being back in a college course—throwing around academic terms like “philanthropic industrial complex” and looking at a PowerPoint littered with disheartening statistics (plus, I was surrounded by college students). Except that at Feminist Camp we weren’t dissecting a theory or conjecturing from behind a desk; we were learning about what was happening on the ground in real time, and the activists speaking to us were working to change the statistics within their presentations, not just analyze them.

Which brings me to the job fair aspect. A goal of the program is to help campers figure out how they can translate their feminist beliefs into a career, so speakers were clear on what their jobs entailed and how they were living their values. Karina Garcia from the National Latina Institute for Reproductive Health detailed her journey from an organizer on her college campus to one on a national scale, Alaina Gilligo at the NYC Comptroller’s office gave job interview tips and described how she’s helping to enforce diversity practices in the city, and it was fascinating to hear about how Laura Ilowite chose to work at the Spence-Chapin adoption agency because she believed that reproductive justice also meant that birth mothers should be able to have their birth child go to a family of their choice. As someone already in the workforce, sometimes parts of these talks could feel like they didn't apply to me— though they certainly would have been helpful when I was trying to figure out what to do with my liberal arts degree a few years ago.

As far as the actual camp part goes, well, there weren't any s’mores or bonfires. But, there was that familiar feeling of camaraderie trekking off to camp brings—we were all in it together, not knowing where the adventure would take us next. What would our tour of the Democracy Now! set be like? Was the self-defense workshop at the feminist bookstore Bluestockings going to be as cool as it sounded? Was anyone else as excited as I was to visit the Feminist Press? For me, this community sentiment was the best part. We were all women who believed in a more accepting and understanding society, and our group formed a non-judgmental cocoon of support. Everything that I’m normally self-conscious about melted away: No one cared about my appearance or clothing or was quietly rating me as an activist. Everyone’s feelings, perspectives, and comments were valid and heard. It was one of the safest spaces I’ve ever been a part of. And it reminded me of what all of the speakers were working towards: For everyone’s humanity—no matter their gender, sexual orientation, or race—to be recognized, accepted, and equal. It was, dare I say, kind of...beautiful.

My seven days at camp left me feeling inspired by how completely these activists dedicated themselves to eradicating the injustices that they’ve seen firsthand, and feeling like a better feminist for knowing more about what needed to be done. I was totally physically exhausted by the end of the week, but after sleeping for a full weekend, I'm invigorated and ready to mobilize—and I imagine that’s what Gloria would have wanted for me. She probably wants it for you, too.